Accident Overview
On November 9, 2019, at 1024 eastern daylight time, a Beech BE55, registration N686DR, sustained substantial damage during an accident near Griffin, Georgia. The commercial pilot and four passengers were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that he was giving rides, and the accident flight was the fifth flight of the morning. After passengers boarded, he taxied to runway 14 and completed the before takeoff checklist, then applied full power for takeoff. Everything appeared normal during the takeoff roll, but as the airplane approached 70 knots, about one third of the way down the runway, the landing gear suddenly retracted. The airplane skidded off the right side of the runway and came to rest partially on the grass and runway pavement.
Post-Accident Observations
Following the accident, the pilot noticed that the landing gear handle was in the up position. He reported that it may have been accidentally bumped by one of the passengers as they got into the airplane.
Examination Results
Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the underside of the fuselage. A subsequent follow-up examination of the airplane and landing gear system showed that the gear handle operated normally and the landing gear functioned as designed. No anomalies were discovered that would preclude normal operation.
Maintenance History
Maintenance was performed on the landing gear handle on January 19, 2018, at an airframe total time of 3,896 hours. The landing gear control handle was loose due to a selector handle spring retainer irregularity. The handle was repaired, and functionality verified. No additional maintenance irregularities were noted during subsequent maintenance, and the pilot reported no issues with the landing gear since that maintenance, performed 22 months before the accident.
Checklist and Manual Notes
The airplane's initial checklist included a line item stating "gear lever – down." According to the airplane flight manual, the airplane was equipped with a safety switch to prevent inadvertent retraction on the ground; a main strut safety switch opens the control circuit when the strut is compressed. A caution note stated: "Never rely on the safety switch to keep the gear down during taxi or on takeoff, landing roll, or in a static position. Always make certain that the landing gear switch is in the down position during these operations."